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2012 NPUC Pathfinder Camporee

You'd have to be at a camporee to understand: Northwest Pathfinders and their leaders are a special breed.

More than 2,000 of them were on hand as Astoria, Oregon, skies blazed with sunshine to welcome Pathfinder clubs from all points of the Northwest. They came together there for the 2012 North Pacific Union Conference Pathfinder Camporee, held September 13–16.

The dedication undergirding these organizations was pervasive. Buses, RVs, trailers, tents and local club banners stretched for acres. Adults who nurture the youth took valuable time from work to accompany them to the event. This was by no means a leisurely vacation for them, but they wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Dignitaries from around the world church came too, but the focus was on the youth, from the evening song services to the special features. On the first full day of the camporee, clubs fanned out to the four winds on individual projects. Some learned the intricacies of knot-tying; others conquered the BMX course. Several clubs took excursions to the beach, hunted for lighthouses or climbed the famous Astoria Column.

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Online commentators Rob Gaede and Alyssa Talimao interview James Black, North American Division youth director. Black attended the camporee at the request of Alphonso McCarthy, North Pacific Union Conference youth director, who sponsored the event and welcomed campers at each evening program. (Gary McLain)Pathfinders at parade-rest pause for prayer during an evening program at the 2012 Pathfinder Camporee in Astoria, Oregon. (Gary McLain)Pathfinder clubs from around the Northwest represent a tapestry of ages, from young people to senior citizens, all eager to be an active part of the Adventist mission. (Gary McLain)More than 2,000 Pathfinders and their leaders crowded into the main pavilion at the Clatsop County Fairgrounds in Astoria, Oregon, for evening programs during this year's NPUC Pathfinder Camporee. (Kristina Gaede)Willis Van Dusen, Astoria mayor, welcomed the weekend crowd to the fairgrounds and received an event pin for his effort. "I was touched just feeling the energy in this room," he said. "These are not casual Christians; these are not lukewarm people. When you come in here, you can just feel the love and feel the faith." (Gary McLain)Tracy Wood, Oregon Conference Pathfinder director and local host for the Astoria camporee, gets ready to issue instructions during one of the weekend events. (Gary McLain)What works better to feed a hungry bunch at lunch than a serving of haystacks? (Gary McLain)Randy and Rob Folkenberg lead the opening praise music during an evening meeting in the Clatsop County Fairgrounds pavilion.Pathfinders from Pleasant Valley Church near Portland, Oregon, provide a special feature at the beginning of the Thursday evening program.David confronts Goliath in an important lesson on humility and faith during an evening program. Drama performed by Walla Walla University students was written and produced by Rachel Scribner.Pathfinders come in all shapes, sizes and ... species. Boo Boy, a help dog for Virginia Rima, accompanies the Gospel Warriors Pathfinder Club from Federal Way, Washington. (Gary McLain)Pathfinder shirts hang neatly, ready for action at a campsite. Each campsite sported unique ways to keep clothes, dishes and utensils, and other important items organized and tidy.Pathfinders from the North Cascades Church near Mount Vernon, Washington, gather during an outing at the Astoria Column, which overlooks the Columbia River.Prayer and fellowship combine during the Sabbath afternoon baptisms held in the Pacific Ocean at Fort Stevens, Oregon, west of Astoria. (Gary McLain)Each Pathfinder club at the camporee had a unique sign or banner at their campsite. Here, the colorful trailer for the Cascade Eagles rests alongside their creative sign and larger-than-life marshmallows, brought all the way from Burlington, Washington.

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Following Sabbath morning services, many headed out to the coast near Fort Stevens for several baptisms in the Pacific Ocean — a veritable highlight for the weekend.

And that is what makes the time, the expense and the long miles worth it for so many of these young people and adults. It's why members from all around the Northwest tend to put an extra shekel or two in the offering plate each week for their local clubs. The investment there gives tangible results, infinitely better and longer lasting than the interest at their local bank.

You can find photos and videos of the 2012 Camporee linked online at npuccamporee2012.com.